Swan 47 S&S Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Swan 47 S&S means chasing a small, tightly built fleet of 70 hulls produced between 1974 and 1985 under Sparkman & Stephens' hand. These are solid-fiberglass Nautor cruiser-racers with a 14.57-meter overall length, a 7-ton fin keel, and a retractable deckhouse that still turns heads at any anchorage. The boat's 47.84 percent ballast ratio and 1,059-square-foot masthead rig explain why owners describe her as robust and quick, even next to newer designs.
Layouts on the Used Market
The defining interior trait is the unmistakable retractable deckhouse, which alters saloon light and protection in a way no fixed-trunk contemporary can match anchor. The narrow, high, almost heart-shaped stern and the pronounced central beam mean the hull carries width early and holds it aft, so below-deck volume feels generous without the wide-scran look of later boats. Expect a masthead-sloop deck with many winches and halyards led to the mast, a period-correct setup that keeps the cockpit uncluttered but sends hoist work forward.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most brokers' listings commonly fit an inverter, asymmetric spinnaker, bimini, dodger, AIS, life raft, radar, autopilot, and chartplotter, so a viewing hull will usually already carry the navigation and safety core. Often-seen owner additions include a watermaker, air conditioning, solar, lithium batteries, and a code zero, pointing to boats prepared for extended self-sufficient cruising. A teak deck and completed transatlantic or circumnavigation history show up often as well, and a buyer should weigh those refit histories against the solid-GRP structure rather than treat them as cosmetic.
What to Inspect
On a specific hull at a viewing, check that the retractable deckhouse moves freely and its seals are sound, since that unique structure is the most likely age point for water entry. The mast-mounted halyard leads concentrate hoist loads at the spar, so inspect for worn sheaves and deck penetration corrosion. No fleet-wide structural or rigging defect pattern has appeared on these boats.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Swan 47 S&S typically appears in the United States, Italy, and the Netherlands. For a buyer, the short checklist is: verify the deckhouse seal and operation, survey the mast-led halyard gear, request documented refit records, and confirm keel-bolt and hull condition at haul-out.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Swan 47 S&S. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $115,371 | — |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $169,000 | +46.5% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $157,324 | -6.9% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $135,000 | -14.2% |
Where they're listed
Swan 47 S&S listings appear across 3 countries. United States has the most listings with 4 (66.7%), followed by Italy and Netherlands.
Country view
6 listings · 3 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $152,000 | 4 | 2 | 66.7% |
| Italy | $157,324 | 1 | 0 | 16.7% |
| Netherlands | $115,371 | 1 | 0 | 16.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Wind 47 | 46.75' | $ 203,880 | 23 | 9 |
| Wauquiez Centurion 47 | 47.33' | $ 68,756 | 19 | 5 |
| Beneteau Oceanis 47 | 47.9' | $ 510,185 | 10 | 3 |
| Swan 47 S&SYou are here | — | $ 135,000 | 7 | 3 |
| Cheoy Lee Offshore 47 | 46.75' | $ 136,975 | 6 | 1 |
| Nautor Swan Swan 48-2 | 49.51' | $ 810,510 | 6 | 0 |